Handmade House TV #38 "Building a Stonemason's Work Table"

Are you interested in learning how to build with stone? Find out more at noahbradley.lp... or come visit us at handmadehouses... As in all things in life the first step is often the most critical one to take... if you want to lay stone... building a stonemason's work table is a great place to start!

[@Bear-Ur2ez]

I would have never thought you were that tall just going off your videos . I certainly do enjoy all your videos and the vast amount of knowledge that you share . So thank you .

[@fredflintstone6163]

I built my hand made fishing cabins years ago and the pleasure of building and using the creation still provided Great peace

[@jonathanschearer7778]

You were absolutely correct about the sand in the mason table. I have been shaping granite from a local abandoned quarry and the sand makes a huge difference. Funny but many videos and books don’t mention it but I did find other references in some older books. Masonry is becoming a lost art with some of the cheap veneer products hitting the market.

[@alaynajordan8459]

Thank you, this tutorial is great! I'm just about to make a table to start letter carving a limestone block!

[@STONEPOET2]

Noah- Greetings from the Columbia river Gorge in Oregon. I have watched 10 of your videos today. Excellent presentations done in a humble approachable manner that is obviously the result of a life deeply entrenched in a direct relationship with materials. Very refreshing with a no B.S. factor, and no patronizing attitude. You and I seem to share almost identitical philosophies of life, work, aesthetics, ethics. As a traditional stonemason, I am always on the lookout for anything related to building with stone. It is my dream to build a stone house on my own parcel of stone laden land. Historically the stonemasons table was called a 'Banker'- ( French 'Bankre' , 'Bancre' ? meaning 'bench' I believe.) The masons who cut architectural and dimensional stone were 'Banker masons'. Your table looks good and stout. You are correct about a liberal use of screws. Mine has hundreds burned into it over the years. I used P.T. 4 x12 plank for the top deck surface, which is now worn down in spots. I find it deadens heavy blows. I wrapped the outer 'skirt' with a strapping of steel and attached rare earth magnets from which to attach my chisels. This keeps the banker top less cluttered. I have used a sand box basin top for a year, but found that the sand grains get sucked up and shot out when using the occasional angle grinder. The basin also became a mixing trough with stone dust, spalls, sand, water and the constant pounding turning it into a box of rammed primitive concrete. As for further custom mods, I also screwed in some metal leg 'cleats' or 'shoes' because the legs were getting ground down unevenly due to high abrasion, impact and constant wetness. I have had one of my bankers for 10 years. When it starts to get loose, I burn in more screws. It is not uncommon for me to table a 300-400lb block on top, but having copious dunnage onsite allows us to crib up larger blocks and slabs to an ergonomic height. I welded a short all steel framed bankre for large (tall) stones. Good body positioning in this vocation is vital. I spent most of my apprenticeship hunched over or on my knees, and finally suggested to the boss "lets get some damn tables". Australopithecus to Homo-errectus evolution. A huge difference in all facets of quality. I see that you are spearheading a stonemasonry workshop. I am intrigued. I would like to work some earthy sandstones and limestones.(mostly igneous material here) If you are short on workshop content, or are interested in having another veteran instructor contribute, I could be interested. I enjoy collaboration and travel. Let me know and thanks for sharing. Matt Goddard-Stonemason Poetry In Stone www.poetryinstone.com Corbett, Oregon

[@cellardoor9360]

Really enjoyed this episode - never knew that masons used a different work table when compared to any other tradesmen

[@lonewolfsurvival3453]

Noah, I just stumbled across your channel and I am now a subscriber. I love your style. I plan on binge-watching your Handmade House series, starting tonight, so please keep it up. I will save your videos to refer back to as I work on my own projects in the future. This is great stuff!

[@shiretook]

Thank you, Mr. Noah. That table looks stout! I sure enjoyed the log cabin academy, and I wish you good success in the stone mason's academy.

[@JiminyFickett]

Did you build a cabin??

[@thomasarussellsr]

Looks like a sturdy little work bench. I've seen so many around here just flip a plastic 55 gal barrel over and use that. I thought these were a thing from a by gone era. Thanks for sharing. I'm considering a timber-framed unit for when I get around to doing the re-construction of this roughly 200 year old L&N bunk house. Planning on some stone and some brick work on the outside. Of course I'll have to jack up this two story behemoth and redo the foundation first. It was built pier and beam, but the beams were laid right on the giant rocks in a flood prone area, so it has sunk over it's lifetime and ended up with the wood on the ground. Going to be around $35,000 to jack it up and do a concrete footer and rebuild the base. But I only have $23,900 for it, so it can be brought in under its final value and still do it right.

[@HvEunen]

Thanks for the videos, but I' starting to miss them. Hoop there will be soon one more.Grtz

[@ShadowPoet]

Awesome video as usual. Thanks Noah!

[@davidmicheletti6292]

Good design Noah. I've been using a two foot log but it will need replacement before next project.

[@1forthepeople969]

I really enjoyed your video. Thank you for sharing.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you!

[@jonathanschearer7778]

Excellent! Hard to find any other instructions on mason tables.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you Jonathan! Please send me a pic if you build one!

[@jonathanschearer7778]

I will, after your video I did some more research into breaking stone (I’m a Geologist by training but my Mineralogy/Petrology courses are getting fuzzy. The sand in the table is important to create precise fractures is what one paper suggested. Unfortunately my physics is even fizzier and I plan to take your word for it but also do some small testing for fun. Thanks!

[@kimserio8317]

I know this is an older publication but that Stone Mason's table would make a good planter table too.

[@PK-rr4ku]

The thumbnail reminded me of the table that Micheal Scott made and showed in the dinner party episode of the office

[@noneyacabbage]

Why no glue on this table? Would it be beneficial to use a urethane over the screws soon the top to prevent water from working in to the screw holes?

[@sofiastefani]

Thank you

[@garethbaus5471]

I might make something simmilar for an anvil stand, the sand might be a good idea for that.

[@gomertube]

Oh my. Noah did you work on that dog trot home (or barn) at 0:52? It's a monster!

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Yes indeed... we actually moved it... took it down log by log and put her back up again. And... I loved every minute of it!

[@HvEunen]

I'm wondering if something is happened or that you are just very busy. I had said Once a week or once every two weeks it will be my hand made house night where I take time for a video an think and plan about my one project. Hopefully it won't take long before we hear again from you. And hopefully your fine.

[@JohnPavilonis]

Hi, I just found your channel and just subscribed. I watched a few of your other videos too. I noticed that you show a lot of log and concrete cabins and was wondering why you choose that style over just plane log cabins. What it the benefit and/or disadvantage you see in constructing that style in comparison to others? (rock, brick, all log)

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

John, Welcome! I would recommend checking out two of my previous videos... this one... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH7TpqVjaZJ-fZo and episode #5 of the Handmade House TV series. I'm a big fan of five different forms of home construction one of them is traditional log cabins (the others are timber-frame, stone, traditional stick-built, and ICF's) I also favor building what I refer to as a blended home... for instance part log, and part timber-frame.... or part log and part stone. Each form of construction has it's pros and cons... and so when we build a home that offers a bit of each we end up with an amazing home. I have tried the round pole method of building a log cabin... once... that's all it took. The traditional method of building cabins is the most common and time proven method... the oldest cabin in the US is 400 years old and built in this manner. As was the cabins of Abe Lincoln, Daniel Boone, and Davy Crockett. The log-on-log method is the Scandinavian method and has only been used here in the US as a temporary means of housing, or as a quickly built outbuilding, or a modern kit home (requiring regular applications of sealers and preservatives). I like to take the best of historical construction, combine it with modern improvements, and alternative methods... the result is a handmade home! Make sure and visit my website and consider signing up with our free weekly newsletter and maybe even joining us within the Handmade House Guild! handmadehouses.com/ Noah

[@Thisisahandle701]

Hi Noah, with regard to chinking what material do you prefer to use for insulation? Does your love for natural materials stretch quite that far?

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

I use a spray foam application... for years I used fiberglass (which I guess is a natural product of sorts... and it does a pretty good job... but the foam does a much better job at stopping air infiltration.

[@vvomero2]

Can you do a video on how to do plumbing and electrical in the cabin?

[@fredflintstone6163]

I don't use plumbing or electric power in any of my cabins it lessens the peace and comfort of the retreat

[@keithdeshong9612]

No glue?

[@jamesoncross7494]

Those look like regular drywall screws. Why are tou using those?

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

They are indeed drywall screws... they have been my favorite screws for many years now... amazingly strong, durable, available, and inexpensive.

[@jamesoncross7494]

Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley why not just get them galvanized? They are that much more expensive and will last much longer and won't put out rust stains that will get all over yourself, your work, and your clothes.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

That is an option... and sometimes the smart one to take! It wasn't about the cost when it came to time to put this table together (it was more of a convenience as they were here in my shed and galvanized would have required a trip to the hardware store). I can't say I've ever had an issue with rust stains, and I've never witnessed a sheetrock screw wear out on stone mason table... the wood gives up the ghost first. I used stainless steel screws on my recent sawhorse builds which I will baby and take care of and will last me the rest of my life. Stone mason tables on the other hand are just made for abuse and require replacement every few years (or at least that has been my experience). I do appreciate your feedback! It's always good to hear from another detail-oriented woodworker!

[@TheMagistrant]

nice jobe :)